Category: Study

If you would like to own this painting, just send your bid in an email to: farnsworthgallery@newmex.com, or call Thea at 505 982-4561.

Well, I never said I was going to relinquish my old ways altogether. As much fun as I've been having with the more painterly approach, there will always be subjects demanding a more controlled approach.

Galleries and markets tend to insist on keeping an artist confined to a single style, a limited choice of subjects. That's understandable. It makes things easier. For them. For some artists, too, I suppose; but how boring to just do the same thing the same way all the time.

There are too many subjects and too many ways of approaching them for me to ever fit comfortably in such a strait jacket. I admit, my aversion to limits has not always been the best thing for my career, but I do feel it has been the best thing for my work. Besides, my way is a lot more fun.

Please remember that if you would like to commission a larger version of your favorite subject, if you would like to check on the availability of a given image, or if you would like to schedule a workshop, we are just a phone call away, at 505 982-4561, or you can email us at: john@johnfarnsworth.com

Like this:

If you would like to own this painting, just send your bid in an email to: farnsworthgallery@newmex.com, or call Thea at 505 982-4561.

Case in point. Two cases, really. Gumballs! from a couple of days ago, and today's Warbonnet.

The first is all about the subject, the realistic representation. Light, shade, colors all faithfully rendered.

The second translated, rendered, realistically, yet not “photographically”.

Someone once said: To translate a book, read it. Then read it again. And again. Then write it. In other words, not a literal, word for word, translation. That's what a computer can do, often with comic or even tragic results.

There is definitely an amount of skill needed to render a super realistic depiction of an object or objects, and I love doing it. I hope I manage to bring a little of myself to the piece, though. I certainly try.

But what of the second example. There's no mistaking what it represents. Most of its component parts are recognizable. But it's slightly more expressionistic, the language of the paint different, more important.

Or maybe I could put it this way: One is like words carefully printed, the other, words done in calligraphy. Both valid. Both justifiable. So what's the big deal? I've done both styles in the past, as well as variations of both.

For me, it's a big deal because through the recent series of abstractions I'm learning to exercise this handwriting deliberately, comfortably and with an authority that I have not previously had in oils.

I find the Gumballs! exciting the way they are painted. But I had avoided painting the Warbonnet ever since I photographed it at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles, because I felt it would be boring if rendered in that way. When I came across it again, but with the abstracts fresh in my mind, I couldn't wait to paint it in this language that I'm finally getting comfortable with.

OK, maybe it's not such a big deal, but it is a step in the right direction!

Please remember that if you would like to commission a larger version of your favorite subject, if you would like to check on the availability of a given image, or if you would like to schedule a workshop, we are just a phone call away, at 505 982-4561, or you can email us at: john@johnfarnsworth.com

Please remember that if you would like to commission a larger version of your favorite subject, if you would like to check on the availability of a given image, or if you would like to schedule a workshop, we are just a phone call away, at 505 982-4561, or you can email us at: john@johnfarnsworth.com

Are you enjoying these daily paintings, photos and writings? If you are, please help us out by clicking on the Google+, Facebook, Twitter and other Icons below. Share us with your friends. And, by all means, leave a comment. Thanks.

I spent quite a bit of time recently, responding to comments on previous posts. For some unknown reason, most of them never showed up on the blog. I'm working on a solution. In the meantime, I hope all of you who have left comments here and on whenapaintersnaps know how very much your comments are appreciated and how important they are to me, especially when I'm tempted to falter.

It can be especially difficult to keep both blogs going on a daily basis while traveling. I can't always respond, but I always read and appreciate them.

I would love to see more dialog forming between those who follow my blogs and comment on them. Hint, hint.

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Please remember that if you would like to commission a larger version of your favorite subject, if you would like to check on the availability of a given image, or if you would like to schedule a workshop, we are just a phone call away, at 505 982-4561, or you can email us at: john@johnfarnsworth.com

Are you enjoying these daily paintings, photos and writings? If you are, please help us out by clicking on the Google+, Facebook, Twitter and other Icons below. Share us with your friends. And, by all means, leave a comment. Thanks.

Please remember that if you would like to commission a larger version of your favorite subject, if you would like to check on the availability of a given image, or if you would like to schedule a workshop, we are just a phone call away, at 505 982-4561, or you can email us at: john@johnfarnsworth.com

Are you enjoying these daily paintings, photos and writings? If you are, please help us out by clicking on the Google+, Facebook, Twitter and other Icons below. Share us with your friends. And, by all means, leave a comment. Thanks

Please remember that if you would like to commission a larger version of your favorite subject, if you would like to check on the availability of a given image, or if you would like to schedule a workshop, we are just a phone call away, at 505 982-4561, or you can email us at: john@johnfarnsworth.com

Are you enjoying these daily paintings, photos and writings? If you are, please help us out by clicking on the Google+, Facebook, Twitter and other Icons below. Share us with your friends. And, by all means, leave a comment. Thanks.

Please remember that if you would like to commission a larger version of your favorite subject, if you would like to check on the availability of a given image, or if you would like to schedule a workshop, we are just a phone call away, at 505 982-4561, or you can email us at: john@johnfarnsworth.com

Are you enjoying these daily paintings, photos and writings? If you are, please help us out by clicking on the Google+, Facebook, Twitter and other Icons below. Share us with your friends. And, by all means, leave a comment. Thanks.